2018 Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2018

Zinfandel

Montecillo Vineyard

Sonoma Valley

Tasting Notes

The “cinnamon dust” soil of this established Sonoma Valley vineyard delivers an elaborate bouquet of savory spices. Licorice and tamarind entwine with rich bittersweet chocolate and citrus zest, leading to a bright berry-like accent in the middle palate. A dry acidity combines with textural tannins to create a long velvety finish.

Vintage Notes

2018 provided an ideal climate allowing time for the grapes to ripen to their optimum flavor structure. The year presented a fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes, inspiring winemakers to push harvest back a few weeks. This longer time on the vine was great for grapes and the mild temperatures kept the fruit from over-ripening. More than an inch of rain fell in early October in many locations, but there was little impact on the quality of the fruit. 2018 could be remembered as one of the longest and most desirable seasons in years, producing exceptional quality grapes throughout Sonoma County.

Vineyard Notes

This vineyard is split into three distinct blocks: Terraces, Head Trained, and Trellised. Each block is fermented independently to showcase the unique characteristics of its micro-climate. Short cold-soaks are used to promote aroma development, followed by an easy slow fermentation to balance out the mouthfeel. The lots are then racked to barrel on their fine lees to undergo malolactic in 40% new French oak. Halfway through aging, the blend is made according to taste and texture that reflects this very special site. The wine is then put back to barrel to complete 18 months of aging before bottling.

Winemaker Notes

Located in the Mayacamas Mountain range, the Montecillo Vineyard sits high on the western slope of the mountains overlooking Sonoma Valley. At 1400 feet elevation, the western exposure provides the heat and sunlight to ripen the Zinfandel vines and the well-drained soil contributes to smaller crops with highly concentrated, full-flavored fruit. The resulting wine is rich and lush.